Smectite Interactions with Riboflavin

Smectite with polyvalent cations on the exchange complex readily absorbed riboflavin from aqueous solution to a limit of about 0.5 mmole/g. The shape of the adsorption isotherms was of the Langmuir type. An exception was Na + -smectite which provided an S-shaped isotherm and smaller amounts of adsorption. Ca 2+ -vermiculite had no interlamellar adsorption of riboflavin, suggesting that this mineral does not swell sufficiently to permit such adsorption. Adsorption isotherms, X-ray powder diffraction data, and UV-visible spectroscopic data suggest that the mechanisms of interaction between smectite and riboflavin may involve a combination of ion-dipole, charge transfer, hydrogen bonding, and physical effects.